PROAIM Spin-3 (3-Axis) Motorized Pan Tilt Head (PT-SPIN-3)

What's In The Box

Please inspect the contents of your shipped package to ensure you have received everything that is listed below.

• Spin-3 Pan-tilt Head
• Spin-3 Joystick Controller with Cap
• 3m Adapter Cable
• 15m Control Cable
• Camera Plate
• Universal Adapter
• Fasteners
• Joystick Controller Plate
• 12V AC Adapter
• Pan-Tilt Mounting Plate and knob
• 1/4" Camera Mounting Screw

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Spin-3 Axis Pan-tilt Head Setup

Spin-3 Axis Pan-tilt Head Mounting

1. Attach the Pan-tilt mounting plate onto the Jib arm using the provided fasteners.
2. Attach Spin-3 Pan-Tilt head to the mounting plate and insert the knob.
3. The Spin-3 Pan-Tilt Head is securely attached to the mounting plate.
4. Loosen the Pan-Tilt head bolt using a 4mm Allen key (Not Included) and detach the motor gear.
5. Rotate the Pan-Tilt adjustable arm to balance it.

NOTE: Ensure you detach the motor gear before adjusting the Pan-Tilt arm.

6. After balancing the Pan-Tilt adjustable arm, retighten the bolt using a 4mm Allen key.

NOTE: The Spin-3 Pan-tilt head ensures a perfect camera balance and offers smooth camerawork at all times.

7. Loosen the Pan-Tilt adjustable arm bolt using a 4mm Allen key, rotate the Camera mounting plate and balance it.
8. Retighten the bolt using a 4mm Allen Key.

Camera Mounting

• Mount the Camera (Not Included) on the camera plate and insert the bolt.
• Tighten the bolt using a screw driver (Not included).

NOTE: The Head will pan, tilt and roll through 360°, this enables to point the camera upwards or downwards when required.

Cable & XLR Cable Assembly

• Connect the female end of the Pan-tilt cable to the male end of the XLR cable.
• Connect the cable's female end to the Joystick controller.
• Connect the AC Adapter's female end to the Joystick controller.

Joystick Controller Features

• Speed Controller - Adjusts the speed of pan, tilt & Dutch roll based on your shot's requirements.
• Dead Spot - Prevents sudden jerks when stopping the movement of the head.
• DampingControl - Provides smooth ending movements by preventing sudden stops.
• Pan-Tilt Roll Direction - Allows reversing of the panning and tilting direction as needed.

Parts of Spin-3 X Joystick Controller

The Spin-3 X Joystick Controller features the following components:

• Fuse Holder
• 4-Pin Power input
• 4-Pin XLR output
• Dead Spot control
• Damping Control knob
• On/Off Switch
• Joystick
• Pan-Tilt Roll Speed adjustment
• Pan-Tilt Roll Direction switch

Diagram of the Spin-3 X Joystick Controller.

AC Adapter & Universal Adapter Assembly

CAUTION: Do not use an unregulated power supply.

• A regulated power supply must produce less than 24 volts.
• We do not recommend using 24 volts.
• More than 24 volts may cause permanent damage.

• Attach one end of the power cable to the adapter.
• Attach the Power cable's other end to the Universal adapter.

Balancing

When you're balancing a camera on a motorized 3-axis pan-tilt head with a camera, it's often necessary to disengage the motors to ensure a precise balance without any motor resistance. Follow these steps to balance the setup:

1. Disengage Motors: Turn off or disengage the motors of the pan-tilt head system. This ensures that no external force (from the motors) interferes with the balance process. Disengaging the motors on the pan-tilt head using a screw (without removing the motor entirely), the idea is to temporarily allow the head to move freely for manual balance adjustments. This screw allows the motor to disengage from actively controlling the axis but keeps it physically attached.
2. Mount the Camera: Securely attach the camera to the mounting plate of the pan-tilt head. Ensure that the camera is tightened properly to avoid any unwanted movements during balancing. Ensure the camera is firmly attached but can still slide on the plate for further adjustments. You may need to slide the camera forward or backward on the plate slightly to help achieve the perfect balance, especially if using long lenses or heavy camera setups.
3. Adjust the Sliding Balance Arm: Move the camera forward or backward along this arm to adjust the centre of gravity. The goal is to have the camera remain stable in a horizontal position without tilting forward or backward. For front-heavy setups: Slide the axis arm backward to distribute the weight more evenly across the head. For rear-heavy setups: Slide the axis arm forward to balance the load. This sliding arm helps compensate for the additional weight and allows more precise balancing, reducing the need for motor strain.
4. Fine-Tune Balance Using Counterweights: Attach an appropriate counterweight (or set of counterweights) on the opposite side of the imbalance. If the camera is front-heavy (tipping forward), place a counterweight on the back of the rig. If the camera is back-heavy (tipping backward), place a counterweight in the front. For side-heavy imbalances (e.g., due to a heavy accessory like a monitor on one side), add the weight on the opposite side. This process ensures the camera is finely balanced, reducing motor load and improving the overall performance of your pan-tilt head, especially for heavier setups.
5. Balance the Tilt Axis (With the help of sliding balance arm and counterweight): Tilt the camera up and down manually to check its balance on the tilt axis. If the camera tilts forward: Slide the camera backward on the plate. If the camera tilts backward: Slide the camera forward. Keep adjusting until the camera remains still at any tilt angle. This shows that the COG is aligned with the tilt axis.
6. Balance the Roll Axis (With the help of sliding balance arm and counterweight): Tilt the camera side-to-side manually to balance the roll axis. If the camera tilts to one side: Adjust the sliding axis arm horizontally to the opposite side to counterbalance the weight. For extremely off-balance setups, additional counterweights or accessories (like a monitor or battery) might be needed on the opposite side to achieve a stable balance. Adjust until the camera stays level without tilting to either side.
7. Balance the Pan Axis (Horizontal Rotation): Unlock the pan axis and rotate the head manually. The camera should stay level and not drift to one side as it rotates. If the camera drifts or leans, adjust the camera plate position slightly left or right or fine-tune the sliding axis arm to adjust the balance.
8. Recheck Balance in All Axes: Once the camera is adjusted on the tilt, pan, and roll axes, recheck each axis by manually moving the camera: Tilt the camera up and down: The camera should stay in place without falling forward or backward. Roll the camera left and right: The camera should stay level and not tilt to either side. Pan the camera left and right: The camera should not drift or wobble as it rotates. If the camera moves or wobbles in any direction, go back to the sliding axis arm, counterbalance weights, or mounting plate adjustments.

   Note: - Proper balancing of the camera setup can significantly reduce gear backlash in motorized pan-tilt heads.

9. Re-engage the Motors: After confirming the camera is balanced, turn the motors back on to power the system. The motors should now require minimal effort to maintain the camera's position, leading to smoother and more efficient operation.

Lock and Secure All Adjustments

Once the camera is fully balanced, tighten all locks and screws to secure the setup. Ensure the sliding axis arm is locked in place and any counterweights or accessories are securely mounted.

Power On and Test the System

After securing the balance, power on the pan-tilt head and run test movements through the full range of motion:

• Pan
• Tilt
• Sliding Balance Arms
• Roll

Diagram showing the motorized pan-tilt head with labels for the Pan axis, Tilt axis, Roll axis, and Sliding Balance Arms.

Warranty and Liability

Warranty: PROAIM offers a one-year warranty for its products from the date of purchase. Within this period, PROAIM will repair products without charge for labor or parts. The warranty does not cover transportation costs, nor does it cover products subjected to misuse or accidental damage. Warranty repairs are subject to inspection and evaluation by PROAIM.

Liability: PROAIM is not liable for damage caused by products not supplied by PROAIM, or from mishandling in transit, accident, misuse, neglect, lack of care of the product, or service by anyone other than PROAIM's company.

Contact Us: In case of any kind of dissatisfaction, please contact PROAIM immediately. PROAIM promises its utmost support and care until you use the product.